Press 'To Blame' For Belarus Crisis

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has blamed journalists for playing a big role in fomenting the country's economic crisis.

Belarus is currently undergoing a major crisis that led to a 36 percent currency devaluation currency and soaring inflation.

Lukashenka, in a televised press conference on June 17, said journalists "played the biggest role in creating panic" while outside forces used "trash called the Internet" to disseminate misinformation.

The president also indicated that the Belarusian authorities are not going to give up their model of socioeconomic development for the country.

“We shall not yield so much as an inch and shall continue to go our own way,” he said. "[The Belarusian model of socioeconomic development] has not collapsed and never will. Many things have been copied from that model.”

The Belarusian leader also warned he would have to "close" the country's borders and limit imports if the economic crisis gets worse.